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Diabetologia
Published in: Diabetologia 3/2007

01-03-2007 | Article

Fat cell enlargement is an independent marker of insulin resistance and ‘hyperleptinaemia’

Authors: M. Lundgren, M. Svensson, S. Lindmark, F. Renström, T. Ruge, J. W. Eriksson

Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 3/2007

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Abstract

Aims/hypothesis

The aim of this study was to explore whether fat cell size in human subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue is independently related to insulin action and adipokine levels.

Materials and methods

Fat cells were prepared from abdominal subcutaneous biopsies obtained from 49 type 2 diabetic and 83 non-diabetic subjects and from omental biopsies obtained from 37 non-diabetic subjects. Cell size and insulin action on glucose uptake capacity in vitro were assessed in isolated fat cells. Insulin sensitivity in vivo was assessed with euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamps. Fasting blood samples were collected and adipokines and NEFA were measured.

Results

Negative correlations were found between subcutaneous fat cell size and insulin sensitivity assessed as M-value during clamp and as insulin action on glucose uptake in fat cells in vitro. This was seen in non-diabetic subjects after including age, sex and BMI in the analyses. No such relationship was found in type 2 diabetic subjects. In both groups, subcutaneous fat cell size correlated positively and independently with plasma levels of leptin but not to any of the other assessed adipokines. In non-diabetic subjects, omental fat cell size was independently and negatively correlated with insulin action in subcutaneous, but not omental, fat cells in vitro.

Conclusions/interpretation

Fat cell enlargement is associated with insulin resistance in non-diabetic individuals independently of BMI. This was not seen in type 2 diabetic subjects, suggesting that after development of type 2 diabetes other factors, not related to fat cell size, become more important for the modulation of insulin resistance.
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Metadata
Title
Fat cell enlargement is an independent marker of insulin resistance and ‘hyperleptinaemia’
Authors
M. Lundgren
M. Svensson
S. Lindmark
F. Renström
T. Ruge
J. W. Eriksson
Publication date
01-03-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Diabetologia / Issue 3/2007
Print ISSN: 0012-186X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-006-0572-1

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